Explosion Hits Tajik Supreme Court, No One Hurt

Tajik Supreme Court after explosion on June 16 DUSHANBE, June 16, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- An explosion went off near the Supreme Court building in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported.

No one was hurt in the blast, which smashed windows and damaged a fence at the court building.


The city's chief prosecutor, Kurbonali Mukhabbatov, said "terrorists" may be behind the attack, which he said was "aimed at intimidation."


Today's blast is the latest in a series of explosions that Tajik authorities have blamed on a group known as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.


The government also blamed the group for two blasts, in January and June 2005, that rocked the Emergency Ministry's building.


Exactly one year ago, on June 16, 2006, three small explosions occurred in different places of Dushanbe, but no one was hurt.


A civil war between Islamist guerillas and the secular government killed more that 100,000 from 1992-97.


Despite a peace deal, the country remains volatile and flooded with weapons.


(with material from Reuters)

RFE/RL Central Asia Report

RFE/RL Central Asia Report


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